Institute

History of the Institute

The Western New England Institute for Psychoanalysis was founded in l952, and accredited (provisionally in l952 and fully in l956) by The American Psychoanalytic Association. It was incorporated on June 30, 1953, under the Laws of the State of Connecticut. Incorporators were Robert P. Knight, M.D., William L. Pious, M.D., and Henry Wexler, M.D. The charter members were Professor Erik H. Erikson, Alfred Gross, M.D., Robert P. Knight, M.D., and William L. Pious, M.D. The Western New England Institute for Psychoanalysis is a non-profit corporation, governed by a Board of Trustees. All matters pertaining to psychoanalytic training are the responsibility of the Education Committee.On September 14, 2003, the Institute celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Objectives and Goals of the Institute

The fundamental objectives of the Institute are three-fold. The first is to advance the development of the theory and practice of psychoanalysis through continued study and further development of the ideas and concepts, which stem from the discoveries of Sigmund Freud. The second is to train selected and qualified students in psychoanalytic theory and practice. And the third is to promote psychoanalytic education and research in accordance with the training standards of The American Psychoanalytic Association. The core programs are Adult Psychoanalytic Training and Child Psychoanalytic Training.

The Institute building houses facilities for its educational programs, including classroom, administrative and library space. The primary goal of psychoanalytic education is to facilitate the development of psychoanalytic competence and a core psychoanalytic identity in individuals who come to psychoanalysis having already demonstrated considerable competence and promise in their own original professional fields. Psychoanalytic competence requires an intellectual and emotional openness toward understanding the full complexity of the human mind including psychic pain and distress, an attitude of scientific curiosity, a spirit of inquiry for new observations and a wish to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the accumulated body of psychoanalytic knowledge.

Policies regarding application, fees, curriculum, and progression are described in sections of the Bulletin. The Western New England Institute for Psychoanalysis does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or physical handicap in the administration of its admission or educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, or any other school-administered program.